Opening Speech Summer in JAPAN 2025

Hello everyone, I am Kiichiro Sato, the governor of Oita Prefecture. Welcome to Oita Prefecture!

Good morning everyone. I am Kiichiro Sato, Governor of Oita Prefecture.
First of all, I would like to extend -from my heart- welcome to Oita to all of the participants of Summer in JAPAN 2025. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to president Hirotsuru and all the people involved in this program for 13 years of continuous effort to make this program possible and cultivating global leaders of the future incorporations with students as instructors from Harvard university and renowned universities from around the world. I understand that this program is meant to develop global leaders of the future through experience of diversity, providing substantial contents such as critical thinking, liberal arts, presentation and computer programming.

Participating students of various ages and from various regions of Japan, please deepen your understanding about the world and foster communication skills and critical thinking. I hope the participants enhance their English skills, knowledge of the cultures and in the future make the world even better. To the university students of this program, I ask that you help children, share your own experience and insights, using this opportunity as your own self-development tool.

In addition, please enjoy Oita’s culture, history, nature, and also very delicious food. Finally I would like to close my words by wishing Summer in JAPAN 2025 successful and fruitful. Thank you very much!